Over 2,000 Learners Have Instantly Failed Test due to Poor Eyesight

By Blind Spot DriveBlog

Over 2,000 Learners Have Instantly Failed Test due to Poor Eyesight

Introduction of Poor Eyesight:

A recent study brought to the fore the rather startling issue, usually overlooked, whereby over 2,000 learner drivers in the UK have so far failed their driving test before they could even get into the test vehicle. This sudden and most disappointing outcome is due to Poor Eyesight, which forms an important but often-overlooked part of the driving test.

Learning to drive is a major milestone in many people’s lives, but it also comes with immense responsibility. Other than mastering the art of driving your vehicle safely, you have to meet numerous physical requirements that include good eyesight. Eyesight is an essential requirement when it comes to safe driving, and a learner driver whose eyesight does not meet the standard may pose a great danger to himself and others on the road.

This article looks at the scale of the problem, how crucial eyesight is for driving, and what can be done to make sure learners are prepared for this key part of the test.

Why is Eyesight so important when Driving?

Regarding driving, one of the most important senses is eyesight. It is a basic factor in how well a driver may judge distances, react to road signs, and observe potential hazards. For this reason, among others, it would make sense why the UK driving test includes an eyesight test to ensure drivers have sufficient vision for driving safely.

The test also includes reading a vehicle number plate from 20 metres; this occurs before the practical driving element of the test. If this proves not possible after three attempts, an instant fail is counted, and the DVLA is notified. That this is a serious matter is reflected in the policy: someone unable to see well enough to pass this simple test is too unsafe to be behind the wheel of any vehicle.

Damning Data: Over 2,000 Learners Failed Due to Poor Eyesight

Data analyzed by learner driver insurer Veygo shows that a total of 2,190 learners have failed their driving tests in the past five years due to poor eyesight alone. These are quite a good number of candidates who were not prepared enough to meet the basic requirements for vision set by the driving test.

Given that driving tests cost £62 for a weekday test and even more on weekends, such failures due to eyesight issues have led to the sheer waste of almost £136,000 by learners who did not pass the first hurdle. This figure doesn’t account for extra costs associated with rebooking tests and additional lessons, let alone frustration and disappointment among those affected.

The figures show that in 2018 alone, 572 learners couldn’t pass because of poor eyesight, while in 2019 the number is 541. In the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, as fewer tests were conducted out of lockdown and other restriction issues, the number of failures from eyesight dropped to 280 and 339, respectively. Despite the lower figures during pandemic years, it would seem the trend goes back to normal with 486 learners failing their eyesight test in 2022.

Men More Likely to Fail Eyesight Test

Another fascinating revelation of the survey is that the male learners tend to fail on the eye test more than the female learners do. For five years now, 1,311 male learners have failed on the eyesight test due to poor vision, compared to 879 female learners. Therein, this gender difference made many wonder if men are just less likely to get their eyes tested or perhaps much more likely to ‘get away with’ thinking that their sight is good enough to drive without paying an optician to prove it.

Why learners fail the eyesight test

It’s embarrassing and can be a catch-all for learners who are unaware of their vision problems. Most people assume they have good enough eyesight to drive simply because in day-to-day life they cannot see anything wrong. Yet, for driving, there is a minimum standard of vision, and many learners may not realize they do not meet this until they are put in the path of this test.

Some of the most prevalent causes of failure among learners in the poor eyesight test include:

Not going for regular eye tests: Most people do not go to the optician on a regular basis because they feel they see everything perfectly. Eyesight deterioration can happen little by little and the people cannot detect the changes it brings about until it is too late.

Good lighting: The eyesight test during the day and normally in good lighting conditions; learners who only scrape through the test may not be able to see properly when out in poorer conditions, for example, at night or in bad weather.

Not putting on corrective glasses or contact lenses: Learners might have myopia or any other defect in their eyes yet sit the tests without putting on any corrective glasses or contact lenses, perhaps thinking they can make it through without necessarily having them.
Uncorrected refractive errors: Myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism are all problems that diminish one’s ability to clearly focus at a particular distance.

Are There Chances that these Figures could Go Higher?

More worrying is that the number of learners failing because of defective eyesight might rise in the near future. For the time being, all the eyesight tests are done in good daylight conditions; nevertheless, there may be more eyesight testing in other kinds of conditions or at any time of the day.

This will now catch more learners off guard, for example, while some learners may just manage to pass this test in broad daylight conditions, they will not be able to meet the standard when it is poorly lit or at night. This may, over time, increase eyesight test failures and potential more road accidents due to drivers with poor vision.

The importance of having your eyes tested

Quite simple, of course-get the eyes tested, that is easy. Visiting an optician to have your eyes checked-easy procedure that may save you from the failure to get a driving test because of poor eyesight. You must ensure that you have an eye test once every two years at a minimum, or even more often if changes in your vision are noticed by you.

An eye test will pick up any defects in your vision, such as myopia, or astigmatism, all of which can be corrected by glasses or contact lenses. It is crucial that your vision meets the required standard to drive, not only for the test but for the safety of yourself and others on the road.

Do I Need to Inform the DVLA About My Poor Eyesight?
The frequently bothering question in most learners’ minds is, ‘Do I need to inform the DVLA if I have a visual impairment?’ Well, you needn’t worry in case you happen to be long or short-sighted, or you are colour blind, provided your eyesight can be corrected to reach the required standard through glasses or contact lenses. However, if you have glaucoma, cataracts, and other progressive conditions that blur your vision, then you should inform the DVLA.

Risk of Driving with Defective Vision
Driving with poor eyesight will not only risk failing your driving test but can also lead to serious accidents once you are on the road. Poor vision can blur your judgment of distances, reading of road signs, or the spotting of hazards in time to react. This puts you and other road users in danger.

Additionally, driving without proper eyewear has economic consequences. Not wearing your glasses or contact lenses, if you need them, may void your insurance policy, said the CEO of Veygo, James Armstrong. This means that in an event of a road accident caused by poor eyesight, your insurance company will not pay for the damage and injury you have afflicted.

Armstrong suggests that, to avoid such pricey errors and always to drive with the right vision levels, you get your eyes checked a minimum of every two years.

How to Prepare for the Poor Eyesight Test
If you are due to take your driving test soon and wouldn’t like to have the added embarrassment and disappointment of failing an eyesight test, here are some simple steps:

Get an eye test: This involves going to your optician well in advance of booking your test, allowing any eyesight problems to be sorted out in time.
Wear the right glasses: If you need a pair of glasses or contact lenses to see well enough to drive at the level required in the state you live in, then wear them when you take your driving test. Remember, by law, you are also expected to wear glasses or contacts every time you drive.
Practice reading number plates: Immediately before your test, it is a good idea to practice reading number plates standing 20 metres away in order to give you confidence in your vision meeting the standard required.
Be aware of lighting conditions: Note that driving conditions may sometimes be variable; even though there is sufficient light to enable you to see clearly, you must check your vision is sufficient when the conditions are poor-for example, at night or in fog.

Conclusion

Missing a driving test is always demoralizing, but failing even before you have started because of defective vision is utterly frustrating. The statistics from Veygo give a suggestion of how much more crucially important good vision is when learning to drive, with over 2,000 learners failing their test in the last five years due to this issue alone.

It cannot stress enough the importance of regular eye testing for anybody looking to either pass a test or become and continue to be a safer driver on the road. With all these statistics and more, do not become part of them; take active steps towards ensuring your vision is up to par. Regular eye tests, with correct wear and preparing for the eyesight test in variable conditions, will not only let you pass your test but also become a much safer driver in the long run. Take no risk: have your eyes tested today, and be ready for the road.

Main image by Anja from Pixabay